House votes to condemn racism, anti-Semitism after GOP lawmaker's 'great replacement' post

Lansing — The Michigan House voted Wednesday to condemn recent comments and social media activity made by a Republican lawmaker who set off a wave of criticism after he posted a graphic promoting the "great replacement" theory.

The resolution — which did not mention Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, by name — passed 98-5 with support from House Republican Leader Matt Hall, who has so far been silent on Schriver's social media activity.

The resolution denounced the espousal of racist, xenophobic, and white supremacist language by members of the Michigan House; it was amended before adoption to also include condemnations of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The resolution argued lawmakers are held to a higher standard and such posts reflect a "failure of decorum" and dereliction of duty.

"Such language and images often draw on stereotypes and conspiracy theories that do not reflect the reality of the world or its people," the resolution introduced by Rep. Jason Hoskins, D-Southfield, said. "Such discourse has been used to incite and justify deadly violence against individuals and communities of color."

House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, last week called the post from Schriver, a first-term Oxford Republican, "blatantly racist."

Schriver spoke on the House floor Wednesday, denying his post was racist. Schriver said he would vote against the resolution because he believed in the "God-given right to free speech."

Hoskins said lawmakers are held to a higher standard because their statements tend to hold some sway with the public. That trust is misled or betrayed through posts like Schriver's, he said.

"You’re giving license to those who see this rhetoric to engage in racism," Hoskins said.

On the House floor, Tate said people watch how members of the "people's House" conduct themselves and see racist or anti-Semitic rhetoric as roadblocks to accessing state government.

"Attempting to govern through hate, through fear or through the marginalization of groups of people is unsustainable and it is reckless," Tate said.

The resolution comes two days after Tate stripped Schriver of his committee assignment and his roughly $132,000 office budget. Separately, the House Republican caucus, which has made no public statement on the issue, cut off Schriver from the caucus communications and policy resources, according to a Capitol source.

Schriver last week reposted a social media post about the "great replacement" theory, a theory that there's a coordinated global effort to diminish the influence of White people.

The graphic contained in the post depicted black figurines covering most of a map of the world, with white figures occupying smaller sections of Australia, Canada, northern Europe and the northern United States. The bottom of the graphic read "The great replacement!"

The graphic, initially posted by right-wing pundit Jack Posobiec, was reposted by Schriver with an emoji of a chart showing a downward trend on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The "great replacement" conspiracy theory asserts there is a coordinated effort to dilute the influence of White people through immigration and through low birth rates among White individuals, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The theory has been linked to anti-Semitism, with some versions alleging it is Jews coordinating the so-called replacement.

It has been referenced, in varying degrees, by shooters in several mass shootings, such as a shooting of 10 people, including several Black individuals, in Buffalo New York in 2022; in the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh; in a 2019 synagogue shooting in Poway, California; and in a 2019 shooting at an El Paso Walmart.

Schriver has been defensive of the post, arguing he is not racist and was genuinely interested in the theory. In a statement Wednesday, Schriver referred to the House's response to his posts as "played out politically correct games."

"Today, there is an intentional effort to divide and damage our families and communities to make us offended, distracted and disoriented," Schriver said.

The last lawmaker to be stripped of both committee assignments and office resources was GOP state Rep. Larry Inman after he, in 2019, was indicted on bribery charges that alleged he attempted to sell his vote on a prevailing wage law repeal. Inman also was kicked out of the House Republican caucus that year. He was acquitted last month of  attempted extortion and soliciting a bribe.

House and Senate Democrats earlier Wednesday held a press conference speaking out against Schriver's comments and commending Tate for taking action against the lawmakers.

Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, said Tate’s removal of Schriver from committee and his decision to cut off Schriver's office staff and budget were a “blueprint” of how to deal with racism and hate speech.

Ahead of the press conference, a truck parked outside the Capitol displayed digital ads defended Schriver’s “great replacement” post, calling on "real American patriots" to stand with Schriver and arguing Democrats were "killing our country with illegal immigrants."

"Where is the outrage?" the messages read. "The invaders are coming!"

eleblanc@detroitnews.com